Scientist II, siRNA Screening Automation and Molecular Analytics

AbbVie•Worcester, MA

1d•$84,500 - $162,000

About The Position

AbbVie’s Biotherapeutic and Genetic Medicine (BGM) department is seeking a highly motivated Scientist to support the development and operation of a high-throughput siRNA screening platform. This role will focus on automation-enabled screening workflows and data analysis. The successful candidate will work closely with platform and program teams to build robust, scalable workflows that accelerate siRNA lead discovery and optimization across multiple therapeutic areas.

Requirements

BS or MS in Molecular Biology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Bioengineering, or a related discipline with typically 7+ years (BS) or 5+ years (MS) of relevant industry experience.
Strong hands-on experience with laboratory automation, high-throughput screening workflows, and coding for automation systems.
Deep experience with RNA extraction and RT-qPCR assay development, execution, and troubleshooting.
Familiarity with NGS workflows for library construction and gene expression profiling, including integration of automation with NGS library preparation or other downstream molecular workflows.
Experience with siRNA screening, oligonucleotide therapeutics, or RNA biology strongly preferred.
Familiarity with scripting, data processing tools, or bioinformatics collaboration models.
Prior experience supporting platform buildout in a matrixed drug discovery environment.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent communication skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

Lead execution of high-throughput siRNA screening workflows using automated liquid-handling and other laboratory automation systems.
Develop, optimize, and troubleshoot automated methods for sample preparation workflows, including RNA extraction, RT-qPCR, and RNA-seq library preparation.
Design and execute experiments to evaluate siRNA activity, potency, and selectivity using molecular biology assay platforms.
Establish and maintain data analysis workflows for screening datasets, including assay QC, normalization, hit assessment, and interpretation of experimental results.
Drive development and implementation of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based strategies using automation for gene expression profiling.
Partner with different groups, cross-functional scientists and bioinformatics, to support analysis and interpretation of large screening and sequencing datasets.
Contribute to the improvement, standardization, and documentation of screening workflows, assay protocols, and automation procedures.
Identify technical issues proactively and implement solutions to improve assay robustness, throughput, and reproducibility.
Present results clearly to project teams and platform leadership, and contribute to scientific discussions, experimental planning, and strategy.
Mentor junior scientists or research associates as needed and contribute to a collaborative, high-performing laboratory environment.